Many Toshiba workers concerned that they might be dismissed

October 17, 2017

A questionnaire survey of Toshiba workers conducted by the Denki-Joho Union, a National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren)-affiliated union organizing individuals in the electronics and information industries, shows that a majority of respondents are worried about being laid off.

Toshiba Corporation has been in a financial crisis due to massive losses caused by its nuclear energy business failures. The decline in bonuses for its employees has been taking place.

In the survey, with “more than 500,000 yen”, “more than one million yen”, “more than 1.5 million yen” combined, those who suffered cuts in bonuses affected nearly 60% of respondents.

In the questionnaire, such complaints were voiced as: “I no longer want Toshiba to ruin the lives of its employees” and “My income severely fell in spite of intensification of labor associated with personnel reduction.” An employee in her/his 30s, who was pressured to leave Toshiba in exchange for being rehired by a subsidiary, wrote, “Because Toshiba promised to take me back, I accepted the move to the subsidiary. As it turned out, it was a unilateral employment transfer.”

In addition, more than 60% of respondents singled out “the atmosphere where they feel they are not allowed to have a say” as a problem in Toshiba’s corporate culture, followed by “the bureaucratic climate” and “No one can go against its boss”.

The head of the Denki-Joho Union, Maita Tokuji said, “Without sincerely listening to its employees, Toshiba cannot reinvigorate its business. To establish a free and vibrant workplace atmosphere, the union will cooperate with Toshiba workers.”